It didn't… go well, but it didn't go horrible either. Really both of them just ended up with extra bruises on their limbs and a heavy respect to the sea Kings that got maybe a little too close for comfort.

"Well… try again tomorrow?" Shanks said and he laid down next to Mihawk, throwing his arm over his eyes tiredly as they both just relaxed from the swimming lessons.

"Don't you have other things to attend to?" Mihawk asked and he rolled over, propping his head up on his hand to watch the red-head. While he knew a lot of sailing and the different kinds of sailors… Roger's crew was different. They didn't really fit in the set mold which worked fine for him.

Shanks shifted around a bit and he opened his eyes, "No. We have shore leave for a while so we don't really have anything to do." He said and shrugged his shoulders.

Mihawk nodded quietly as his eyes closed and he rolled onto his back once more as they both simply relaxed. It had been… more work than originally thought and they were both tired from it, but there was nothing to do about it really save to rest. It was… nice as well. Simply being next to someone without worry of anything happening.

After a moment he felt poking on his shoulder and let out a soft sigh, "Yes, Shanks?" He asked and cracked an eye open to look at the other in interest.

The boy in question grinned, but it dropped after a moment, "Uhm… I was going to… ask why you're so afraid of the water." Shanks said, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth nervously.

"Ah…" Mihawk sat up at that and rested his arms across his knees as another deeper sigh left him. It had been so, so long ago… but it still troubled him. He supposed that's what trauma did to you though. It just stuck around forever. "My guardians, when I had them, didn't like me. They tried to drown me." He said simply as he stared out into the ocean. He loved the ocean, don't get him wrong, but… well…

Shanks shot up that looking angrier than he probably had any right to be, "What! Where are they? I'll kick their asses!" The kid said and Mihawk laughed.

It left him suddenly, but it was loud and filled with amusement. "They're already dead, Shanks. Thank you though." He said and showed his first real smile to the other, watching as a light flush crossed Shanks' cheeks.

He huffed, "Well, if they were I would have kicked their asses for you. You're too nice to hurt." Shanks said and then scrambled to his feet, offering his hand to the taller of the two with another smile, all previous anger seeming to have vanished. "We should go back before they eat all the food."

"Right," Mihawk said and accepted the hand, letting Shanks pull him up. A small hum left him and he relaxed thinking that this wasn't so bad… he could live with this.

The next few weeks passed almost like a blur. It was mostly filled with Mihawk staying with the Roger Pirates and Shanks or Buggy. He got along with both of the boys as well as the Captain and First Mate. That could be because of their prank war though… but really that was hardly Mihawk's fault. The two cabin boys had started it and he had finished it.

Aside from that were also more swimming lessons along with more lessons on swordsmanship. In exchange for free passage, he started teaching and helping the crew with their swordsmanship and evasive maneuvers. He made sure to let them know that surviving was more important than anything as they weren't actually swordsmen. They were just men who needed to defend themselves and this was the option they had chosen.

They'd stayed on the island for a little over a week before finally getting ready to sail once more with the loss of one crew member who had fallen for a pretty lass and chose to stay behind with the blessing of Roger and the crew. There had been a big party after that and a lot of drinking.

"Mihawk! You see anything?" Roger yelled up to him.

He had made his home in the crow's nest, not liking the cramped and trapped feeling of the ship. Of course it also meant Shanks or Buggy… or both, were always hiding up there with him. Speaking of, both were currently snoring in a pile of limbs on his makeshift bed.

"Nothing yet, Roger." He called back as he scanned the horizon again. It had been pretty calm sailing so far after all.

The two young teens shifted and grumbled in their sleep. Mihawk leaned over the edge though and he watched Roger start climbing up to them and quickly made space for the older man. They often talked up here where less people could overhear them… he'd admitted to the Captain a little bit more then he probably should have after all, but… Roger's limit on life was growing short.

"So this is where the brats come to hide." Roger said with a laugh and Mihawk tossed a small charm over them so they couldn't be woken up by their loud Captain. A small grimace pulled at his features from the tug on his magic though.

"Yes, but I don't mind." He said and leaned back to feel the air on his skin. "You should tell them, Roger. The whole crew that is."

"No."

"Alright."

It was a semi common conversation between the two of them. He had told Roger that he had a disease and wouldn't last more than five years if that. Mihawk said he should tell the crew so that they would be more prepared, but he had refused and that's where they left them. At a stalemate with neither going to betray the other's trust.

"You sure you don't want to stick around?" Roger asked after they sat in silence for a while.

"I'm sure. I feel like I'm close to something that will help. Either a teacher or my home." Mihawk said as he shifted his attention to the soul bonds that he had. One was for home and then Death had added a temporary one for a teacher that he would have. Someone who had been raised in this world and could teach him their more special abilities such as Haki.

Roger nodded and he glanced down at the crew, watching as Rayleigh barked orders here and there. "Alright. You have your denden though?" He asked and Mihawk showed the small sleeping snail. It was the brother of the one they'd gotten and he had used a bit of shadow and soul magic to ensure that their connection stayed strong between each other.

Mihawk put the little snail back up and he let a small smile slide across his lips as he relaxed. "If you ever need anything, just call me." He offered to the Captain.

"Then it goes both ways, kid." He said with a grin and then gave a mocking salute before heading back down to the decking.

"Idiot…" Mihawk muttered and rolled his eyes before going back to what he was doing, sparing a soft look for Shanks and Buggy as he went. The two really were close friends and he was glad they had each other seeing as they were the youngest on the crew.

Mihawk leaned back and he closed his eyes for a moment before feeling the soft fingers guiding through his hair. "The next Island will have your teacher for this realm, little one." Death spoke and it sounded like a whisper in the breeze.

A nod was all that Mihawk gave as he straightened himself back up and opened his eyes. Death, of course, wasn't really there… but it meant more than anything to simply hear him every now and then. If anything else it was just reassurance that he would never be alone again.

He looked down at the sleeping boys and rolled his eyes before crouching down next to them. "Hey kids. Time to wake up." He said in a teasing tone, already growing a soft spot for them both.

"Five more minutes…" Shanks groaned and Buggy just flailed an arm before they both sunk deeper in the cuddles for more sleep.

Mihawk smirked and then grabbed them by the shirt collars before hauling them up. They woke with twin screams and flailed before hanging onto the taller teen in panic. It died down quickly though when their wide eyes caught sight of the falling sun. It splashed beautiful colors along the cloudless sky as the stars started to make themselves known. A moment of peace and clarity really.

He set them down gently and leaned against the side of the nest, arms crossed as he watched them enjoy the scene with a small smile of his own on his lips. "Never forget to just take a moment and breathe, Shanks. Buggy. Remember what you are and always know someone's always there to have your back." His voice was soft, but firm as he watched the two and a chuckle made their blushes darken as they took the soft words to heart.

"Thanks Hawky. You're the best." Shanks said and gave him a blinding smile that was followed by a shyer Buggy.

They both gave him a hug before scurrying back down to the deck so that they could finish their chores. Someone else from the crew came up and Mihawk just travelled higher up until he was in the smaller nest they had, but rarely used.

Mihawk sat down and he closed his eyes as he began meditating. Death had said each new place he went would give him a new form. Something that would aid him there and throughout his never ending life. It was never so simple for him though as he didn't really have an animagus form back on his home world. The potion just messed up his eyes making them look more golden green and hawk like.

Here though… well he felt something stirring in his mind as he traversed the long halls of his minds defenses. Mihawk turned the corner and he felt his breath catch when he was eye to eye with whatever new thing was lurking in his mind.

"Finally here then?" The darkly hissed voice bounced off the walls as the shadowed dragon stood at its full height, looking down at Mihawk.